Ashford Market Report – Tuesday 21st April 2026

Sheep Sales Reports

Finished Hoggets – 1,578 sold.

Auctioneer: John Rossiter 07557 392903

Top price per kilo – 474p – Husk Farms Ltd, Kent.
Top price per head – £218.00 – P Gorringe, West Sussex.

There are certainly less sheep out there now and the export grade lighter weights are the sector of the hogget market we are most short of numbers in.
With 1,600 hoggets penned and nearly 1100 of them falling into the “heavy” bracket, it shows you the levels of availability of lighter sorts. This is generally the case each year and I am sure I was saying the same thing 12 months ago. SQQ average today was returned at 401p pk, which is still exceptionally strong and shows that hoggets are still the choice over new season offerings with a change in this is certainly on the horizon, not quite yet though.
Top runs of sheep this week from Husk Farms Ltd and Peter Gorringe who topped the day at 474p pk and £218 hd respectively. It was great to see sheep travelling to Ashford for competitive and fair trade, from all across the South of the country, with over 500 hoggets from East Anglia also in the entry.
The entry of North Country Mule Ewe hoggets topped at £225 hd and averaged £218 hd with several buyers in attendance and all finding homes in local flocks.

Finished Hoggets

37 – £159.00 (430p kg) – Mrs V & M Tester
38 – £180.00 (474p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
39 – £154.00 (395p kg) – A Rivers
40 – £185.00 (463p kg) – P Gorringe
41 – £171.00 (417p kg) – H Rivers
42 – £195.00 (464p kg) – M Pearce
43 – £180.00 (419p kg) – Port View Farm Ltd.
44 – £185.50 (422p kg) – M Pearce
45 – £185.00 (411p kg) – P Gorringe
46 – £202.00 (439p kg) – T Crick
47 – £209.00 (445p kg) – P Gorringe
48 – £211.00 (440p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
49 – £209.00 (427p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
50 – £212.00 (424p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
51 – £220.00 (431p kg) – T Crick
52 – £222.00 (427p kg) – T Crick
53 – £208.00 (392p kg) – Frederick & Sons
54 – £224.00 (415p kg) – T Crick
55 – £225.00 (409p kg) – T Crick
56 – £218.00 (389p kg) – P Gorringe
57 – £209.00 (367p kg) – Lloyd Barrett
58 – £211.00 (364p kg) – P Gorringe
59 – £215.00 (364p kg) – Husk Farms Ltd
60 – £198.00 (330p kg) – P Gorringe

Averages (p/kg)

Standard 32.1 to 39 kgs – 40 – Top 474, Ave. 425.4
Medium 39.1 to 45.5 kgs – 379 – Top 464, Ave. 399.7
Heavy 45.6 to 52 kgs – 556   – Top 445, Ave. 402.7
Over 52.1 kgs + – 602 – Top 427, Ave. 369.9

Store Hoggets  381 – Sold

Auctioneers: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

A few more on offer today with quite a mixed entry, but what an incredible trade. Genuine stores to £179, averaging £150 hd and Romneys to £159 hd. Simply the dearest this section has ever been, with no exceptions.

Cull Sheep – 521 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Top price ewes: £275.00 – Kingswood Farmers Limited, Kent. – Ave. £171.36

Good numbers penned once again for the time of year with a strong trade continuing to find numbers.
The best regularly £170 – £200 with top call going to Kingwood Farmers Limited for Charollais to £275 and Texels to £274. Medium sorts £140 – £170 on most occasions with leaner grazing types £100 – £140 throughout with these scarce in the pens as to be expected.
We have regular buyers every week for all grades and with the current trade we are seeing more numbers would be of no concern.

Top prices included:

Charollais to £275 – Kingswood Farmers Limited, Texels to £274 – Kingswood Farmers Limited, Beltex to £272 – Husk Farms Ltd, Texel cross to £230 – Husk Farms Ltd, Blue Texels to £220 – P D Denne, Romneys to £212 – R Colby, Mules to £196 – P N & C Burden.

Ewes & Lambs 51 sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

Just a few pens of couples again this week from P & R Locke with Mules ewes and Texel lambs to £298 per outfit and £108 per life.
Couples are in demand with a section available every Tuesday.
Entries are being received for our Spring Fair on Saturday 9^th May.

Ear Tags in Sheep
Please be aware of your responsibilities with regard to the tagging of sheep of all ages and in all sections of the market.

Cattle Reports

Finished Cattle –  44 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Harder work again! Despite more potential customers present around the ring there was a decidedly steady demand due to concerns over accelerated costs within the industry.
Confidence overall is still strong; cattle numbers are still short; and beef prices the world over are still high. We will see a return, but we certainly need a degree of increased responsibility from our, so called, leaders.
Some very smart cattle from Birt Bros, perfectly presented, with good finish and big weight stood out with British Blue heifers to 380p, £2572 and steers to 375p, £2753. Other quality beef types from R F & E A Simmons, W Alexander (Shoreham) and J Berryman generally 345p – 360p.
Alan Down`s nice finished Limousin x Friesian steers 335-338p, £2241 but other dairy bred types hit harder particularly if wasteful in type and shape, many 290-320p
Natives finding the same story with the nice cattle 330-340p. Angus, Sussex and Hereford steers from Dan Mackleden to 340p, £2275, 339p, £2065, and 330p, £2191 respectively. Heavy Beef Shorthorn steers from Leggat Farming to 311p, 310p, £2624, £2461.
Young Bull (1) Limousin x Friesian 320p, £2093 A J Down.

Leading steer prices
Birt Bros – British Blue cross – 375p (£2753)
Birt Bros – British Blue cross – 366p (£2632)
Birt Bros – British Blue cross – 358p (£2646)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 358p (£2395)
R F & E A Simmons – Limousin cross – 357p (£2068)

Leading heifer prices
Birt Bros – Limousin cross – 380p (£2334)
Birt Bros – Limousin cross – 368p (£2573)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 358p (£1948)
W Alexander (Shoreham) – Limousin cross – 357p (£1836)
Birt Bros – British Blue cross – 348p (£2572)

Average prices
Steers 551 to 650 kg – 12 – Top 357p – Ave. 339p
Steers 651 kg + – 14 – Top 375p – Ave. 333p
Heifers 300 to 500 kg – 1 – Top 338p – Ave. 338p
Heifers 501 to 590 kg – 6 – Top 358p – Ave. 335p
Heifers 591+ kg – 10 – Top 380p – Ave. 329p

OTM Cattle and Cull Cows – 61 Sold

Auctioneer: Peter Kingwill 07795 200357.

Excellent numbers, and though quality was somewhat variable, with less flesh on offer overall, there were some very good feeders of all ages.
In contrast to the gloom surrounding the prime beef sector there is no stopping the processing sector where a slightly cheaper product is needed for those processed meals and burgers, together with a sharp export demand for the best beef cows to France, in particular, where this premium product is highly valued. More buyers around the ring and a strong positive trade throughout.
Plenty of best beef cows to feed or slaughter up over 300p with Limousin feeders to 336p, £2097 from Tim Martin, West Sussex, and heavyweight Limousin and Angus from Old England, Essex to £2636 and £2586.
Limousin 336p, £2097 T Martin, 318p, 307p, £2375, £2302 Campbell Bros, 300p, £2636 Old England, 300p, £1512 R M & J Penny; Angus 317p, 314p, 312p, £2247, £1912 Campbell Bros, 304p, 291p, £2216, £1903 M J Ashworth, 294p, £1791 J T Miller, 248p, £2586 Old England; Sussex 308p, £1922 D G & J W Gore, 276p, £1612 L Stevens & Sons; Blonde 296p, £2039 T Martin; Charolais 281p, 276p, £2076 Old England; Simmental 278p, £1804 Lawrence & Son; British Blue 276p, 274p, £2259 High Chimney Farms; Red Poll 254p, £1639 Old England; Longhorn 240p, £1245 M Cullen.
Not much flesh amongst the dairy entry with a strong Channel Island influence but all eagerly taken and trade looking very firm.
Holstein Friesian 266p, £1872 Plurenden Ptnrs, 245p, 226p, £1589, £1443 J W Boyd & Sons; Holstein 231p, 226p, £1637, £1556 P J Forknall; Jersey 200p, 180p, 176p, £1137, £924 S E Lane & Ptnrs, 194p, 188p, 179p, £881, £865, £832 Hickson Bros.
Stock Bulls (3) Very strong. British Blue 265p, £2063, Limousin 264p, £2899, Sussex 243p, £2267.
Overage (10) A largely Jersey bred entry this week but nonetheless finding strong competition. Angus OTM heifer 304p, £1502 C Kearl; Angus x Jersey OTM steer 300p, £1976 S E Lane & Ptnrs; Angus x Jersey steers and heifers 250-300p, 950, £1300 W Arnold; Black & White OTM heifers 275p, 273p, £1649 D Murdoch & Sons.

Beef Cows – 34 Sold – Top 336, Average 275.2
Dairy Cows – 14 Sold – Top 266, Average 207.6

Store & Breeding Cattle – 553 Sold

Auctioneer: James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678

The trade was on fire with and the sun shining there was no holding back from buyers around the ring all looking for numbers.
The sale started off with a Limousin cross cow with Limousin calf at foot to £2350 followed by store bulls topping at £1610 from T Martin for a 13 mth Limousin cross.
First of the stores from Garratt & Mannering with Albion steers 9 mths to £1400 and White Park crosses 10 – 14 mths from Ashenfield Farms topped at £1040 for the steers and £1080 for the heifers. Well reared Hereford x Friesian heifers 6 mths from W T Kemp to £990 and South Devon steers 13 mths from I Tapsell top at £1420 followed by G A Verity with Limousin cross steers 12 mths to £1540 all of which were grazing types.
Onto a run of British Blue x Friesian and Aberdeen Angus x Friesian steers and heifers from PJS Farms 12-14 mths creating plenty of interest around the ring topping at £1680 for the steers and heifers from the same home to £1790. Angus heifers 13-14 mths to £1650 from A K F Dod and Angus heifers 12-14 mths from R W Goddard & Partners to £1730 followed by a super run of Angus crosses 12-14 mths from J Batchelor & Partners with steers topping at £2130 and £1980 (twice). Rhino Plant Hire topped at £1650 for 12 mth Charolais cross steers and R M & J Penny had Limousin steers 10 mths to £1790 and heifers from the same home to £1640 with forward sorts from G W & B Bridges to £1890 for Limousin x Sussex to £1890. Limousin steers 10 mths from I G Pilcher to £1830 and smart Limousin heifers 12-14 mths from M L Willaims to £1860 followed by M J Ashworth with Limousin steers 12 mths to £1860 and heifers to £1650.
Well done types to £1940 from RDE Spencer for Limousin and Angus cross steers 12-14 mths and well put together types from T Martin top at £2280 for Limousin cross steers 14 mths with other from the same home £2250 and £1940. Simmental heifers 21 mths from Lawrence & Sons top at £2290 and Simmental cross steers 12 mths from M G Izard top at £1700 with Simmental steers 12 mths from G Gregory to £1700 also. Sussex crosses 15 mths to £1640 from S H Gribble and old fashioned, out wintered Beef Shorthorn steers 18 – 24 mths from A G Young & Son saw £2090 for their best. Angus x Friesian heifers 19 mths from C W Farms to £1520 with Hereford steers 19 months from M J Burton to £2100 and Blue x Galloway steers 23 mths from H West to £1860.
A well supported day with a super show of grazing cattle in the pens as well as short term feeding types which remain to sell well despite the finished trade being a lesser trade.
We will be having our next sale of store cattle on Tuesday 28^th April with numbers of 450 already entered for this date.

Principal prices include:
Native:
Aberdeen Angus cross steers 14 mths – £2130 – J Batchelor & Ptnrs
Hereford steers 20 mths – £2100 – M J Burton
Shorthorn steers 22 mths – £2090 – A G Young & Sons
Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers 19 mths – £1780 – H & S Nesfield
Aberdeen Angus heifers 13 mths – £1730 – R W Goddard & Partners
Aberdeen Angus cross heifers 14 mths – £1650 – A K F Dod
Continental:
Limousin cross steers 15 mths – £2280 – T Martin
Blue x Friesian steers 19 mths – £2070 – R & H Vincent
Limousin cross steers 12 mths – £1860 – M J Ashworth
Simmental heifers 21 mths – £2290 – Lawrence & Sons
Limousin cross heifers 13 mths – £1890 – G W & B Bridges
Limousin cross heifers 14 mths – £1860 – M L Williams

Finished Pigs – 10 Sold

Auctioneers: John Rossiter 07557 392903.

Blistering trade created in the pig section by the new and inexperienced auctioneer coming up trumps. Potentially more luck than judgement here, but native pigs selling to 232p kg.
More needed to satisfy demand each sale.

Ear Tags

Producers are reminded that all cattle require two ear tags with at least one large distance readable tag. Please inspect stock in good time to order replacement tags as, regrettably, any stock that are incorrectly tagged may not be offered for sale. Local authority inspectors will be taking note as stock comes to market.

 

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